Revd. W. B. Sprague D. D. Albany N. Y. Quincy 3. October 1831 Dear Sir. Your very kind Letter of the 23 d. ult o. has been received with the enclosed volume for which I tender you my cordial thanks - as I ought previously to have done for several of your Sermons which I have had the pleasure of receiving from you. It has been my lot in Life, to enjoy the blessing of being the Parent of a daughter, only long enough, while depositing her mortal remains in the grave, in a far distant land, to say "tho Lord gave - the Lord hath taken away" - blessed "be the name the Lord." - But of the blessings which I now enjoy a large portion consists in three infant grand daughters who I hope and trust will be brought up in that beginning of Wisdom, the fear of the Lord - and in the paths of Piety and Virtue - To them, your book, if by the Will of God they should attain the age of reaching it with Understanding will, I flatter myself yield Instruction and Delight - nor shall I deny myself the benefit of sharing it. There are doubtless percepts of Religion and Morality appropriate to the tender age and sex, but the mind is of sex, and its culture is of every age. Dull and Clodlike must be the intellect of that manhood and old age which can find no precepts for itself in Lessons of improvement to female childhood and youth. The demand of a new Edition of your book, the first having been published without the Recommendation of a name is proof that its merits have not been lost either upon Parents or Children may it continue to be read with profit, as long as those relations in human Society shall last. With great Respect, I am Dear Sir, your friend and Serv t J. Q. Adams